Whitesboro rallies to beat VVS in boys basketball

VERONA -- With senior standout Alex Saville sidelined with an injury, Vernon-Verona-Sherrill's boys basketball team seemed unlikely to have a chance of upsetting Whitesboro in Friday's game.

The Red Devils came very close.

Coach Bob Esposito's team turned to Dalton Cousin in the first half and seized a 27-20 lead. Whitesboro outscored VVS 29-10 in the decisive third quarter and rolled to a 61-47 win, despite Cousin's 21 points.

"They turned up the pressure and we broke it okay, but got in too much of a hurry to get into our offense," said Esposito of the third quarter. "Give a lot of credit to Whitesboro. They've got a nice team."

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VVS (1-9) appeared to be in control early, thanks to Cousin's dominant start. He scored the hosts' first eight points, four coming on offensive rebounds. The junior also made a difference defensively, blocking a couple of shots as well as grabbing rebounds. Bud Bowers' 3-pointer put VVS up 12-6, but Whitesboro (9-2) scored the last six points of the first quarter to make it 12-12.

Colin Salisbury scored first to start the second quarter, giving the visitors their first lead of the game. It was short-lived as Nick Metzger buried a 3-pointer to put VVS back in front. Bowers followed with another three before T.J. Borza scored a pair of baskets to tie the game 18-18. The Red Devils closed the half with a 9-2 run sparked by Matt McCoy. The junior converted an easy lay-up to give VVS the lead. His next basket was much more difficult. Cousin was knocked to the ground while attempting a shot and McCoy snared the rebound. McCoy leapt over Cousin and converted the basket. Cousin scored his 11th point of the half on VVS' next possession and the hosts took a 27-20 lead into the half.

"I though it was a testament to the kids to take a seven-point lead (into halftime)," said Esposito of his team, who will be without Saville indefinitely. "It was fun to watch."

Whitesboro took over in the third quarter, quickly tying the game by pressing VVS. Metzger got the Red Devils back on top with some outstanding ballhandling, though. He made a quick behind-the-back dribble on a fast break before finding Christian Tiffin for a lay-up. On VVS' next possession Metzger dribbled through the visitors' defense before hitting a tough floater to put the hosts back up by four. Whitesboro again answered with a Borza 3-pointer, but Cousin quickly scored inside on the ensuing possession while drawing a foul. He converted the free throw to put VVS back up by one.

It turned out to be the Red Devils' final lead. Whitesboro ended the back-and-forth scoring with a 3-point play by Tom Solendorio. He scored again moments later and Borza's acrobatic double-clutch jump shot put the visitors up by six with 2:17 to play in the third. After Esposito called time-out, Borza stole the ball and made a lay-up to extend the lead to eight. Borza, who finished with a game-high 24 points, added a 3-pointer in the closing seconds, giving Whitesboro a 49-37 lead going into the fourth quarter.

Whitesboro scored the first four points of the fourth quarter before VVS made one last run. Baskets by McCoy and Cousin and a free throw by Bowers cut the Whitesboro lead to 11 with five minutes to play. From there the visitors scored the next six points to seal the victory.

"I took more positives than negatives (from the game)," said Esposito. "We had a lead at halftime (and) moved the ball well. Hopefully we can translate it into a win next game. The kids deserve a win. They're respectful, they listen, they do everything we ask them."